Pro golfers can appear like clones, especially under the pressure of this week’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links, but the razor-thin winning edge rides on the subtle differences in personality and behavior under pressure.
The code that makes each golfer tick plays into another prize at stake this week. An American winner will get bonus points for the Ryder Cup, a rare team competition played biennially against the top Europeans. This fall in Wales, the Americans are defending champions for only the fourth time in 25 years.
In that 2008 victory, Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger relied on Atlanta psychologist Ron Braund for the optimum pairings for the upset victory. Braund and Azinger have just co-authored "Cracking the Code: The Winning Ryder Cup Strategy, Make it Work for You” (Looking Glass Books).
Braund, 58, recently explained golf profiling, how Tiger Woods suits team golf and how Ryder Cup strategy can motivate kids and employees:
Q: How did you get involved with the Ryder Cup?
A: In about 2002 or 2003, a friend introduced me to Paul. He was moving from his 40s to 50s, and we talked about the potential and opportunities before him. In 2006, Paul was broadcasting the Tour Championship at East Lake. We celebrated him being named Ryder Cup captain with dinner at Veni Vidi Vici. I told him if he was interested in my work building corporate teams, I'd be glad to give him thoughts.
Q: Are you a golfer?
A: I'm a 14 handicap. In watching a few Ryder Cups, I heard banter about Europeans being the more relational types and the U.S. more individuals. I didn't really buy into that and highlighted that the first night Paul and I talked. What if you match to personality rather than playing style? I asked. Paul immediately said, 'I don't think so.' It was psychobabble to him. He wanted to match players according to their playing style.
Q: What changed?
A: Paul had in mind for years to break the team into smaller groups, inspired by a documentary on Navy SEALs. The biggest challenge was how little time players have to prepare. They show up on Monday and by Friday are supposed to be a well functioning team after being separate islands the two years before. As a leader, Paul needed to create the best environment for his players to be comfortable. That was a variable he could control.
Q: How did you profile the top 30 American players?
A: I didn't stalk them, but my sons Rich and Adam and I went to 12 or 13 tournaments and assessed what influenced their ability to play at a high level. Only when I got out on tour could I see how important that caddie-player relationship was. Someone might just want the facts, the yardage. But then you have Phil Mickelson and his caddie Bones MacKay, and you can tell their relationship is so tight and that's a factor for Phil.
I watched the players in the press and dining areas. Were they outgoing or introspective? We researched their values, background, significant emotional events, tournaments won or lost.
Q: How did you group them?
A: One group, with Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim, were the "dominant conscientious." They take charge of situations to solve problems. Another group, with Jim Furyk and Kenny Perry, were "influencing relaters." They generate enthusiasm and are comfortable interacting with others. The "steady supportive" group are players like Stewart Cink and Steve Stricker.
Q: Did each “pod” have different needs?
A: As captain, Paul was the only person who can talk to the players. He developed "messaging" based on their needs. The aggressive players need to be challenged. The relaters need to be inspired. The steady supporters need to be asked questions and drawn out.
It’s like if you have a strong-willed child, you need to be more directive. A creative child needs to be more oriented to purpose, fairness and encouragement.
Q: Couldn’t you simply attribute the U.S. victory to better golf?
A: The Ryder Cup is still about the players ... but if we can tip the needle just a little bit to where the players motivate, understand each other and communicate effectively, even if we tipped it 1 percent, that's what we were looking for.
Q: Tiger Woods was injured in late 2008. How would he have changed the team?
A: He would have fit very well as an influencer, with someone like Kenny Perry, or a steady supporter like Steve Stricker. We would not have put him with Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan or Phil Mickelson, because that would create potential resistance. The anathema was the Phil-Tiger scenario. When things go wrong, they process it so differently. You want people walking down the fairway together.
Q: How might Tiger affect this year’s U.S. team?
A: I think the team will embrace him. ... Tiger facing the tabloid press in Europe can be brutal, so it might draw the team closer together. Some of the injustice put on Tiger, if he's under different scrutiny than the rest of the team, could draw them together.
Q: Are you involved in the 2010 Ryder Cup?
A: No. A captain gets people he's comfortable around. I was at a senior PGA event, waiting on (captain Corey Pavin) to ask Paul (Azinger) for help but there's not been any conversation. People want to compare what Corey's doing as it relates to Paul, but Paul doesn't want that burden on Corey.
One player I hope makes the team is Jason Bohn. We both live at the Governors Towne Club in Acworth. He's on the 8th fairway and I'm on the 10th.
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